The Holmes Family: Christmas Day

The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other. ~Burton Hillis

One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don't clean it up too quickly. ~Andy Rooney

Jillian loves her Leapster, she likes to call it her I-pad (like Daddy got for his graduation...Texas pictures are hopefully coming soon!)

Faith and Daddy reading a book with the new Tag.

A tradition in Brad's house growing up was that Santa left an apple and orange in the bottom of the stockings. Santa did the same thing at our house this year. The girls also got some candy, stickers, and craft supplies!

Anna getting into mischief. :-)

Smiling Anna

Brad told the story of Jesus' birth from the book of Luke using our nativity and Jillian played an angel. Here she is with her arms spread wide-open (and with Daddy's instructions to stand on top of the couch)! Jillian did a great job repeating what Daddy read from the Bible... "Behold! Do not be afraid! I bring tidings of great joy."

After re-telling the story of Jesus' birth, the girls went back to playing with Santa's gift. They weren't even that interested in opening up presents from Mommy and Daddy. Jillian gave Faith a turn playing her new Leapster but a lot of the concepts are still a little over Faith's head. Faith likes it because she thinks of it as being a little movie!

We finally persuaded the girls to open up their other presents. :-) Jillian opening up her first Christmas gift from Mommy and Daddy.

Faith about to open her My Little Pony. It is not the traditional pony because it has no hair to brush but instead has lots of clothes, hats, wigs that you can use to dress up your pony! Our neighbors came over with some dessert for us later in the afternoon and Farideh asked Faith "What did you get for Christmas?" Faith enthusiastically answered "A pony..... and ice-cream". What more could a three-year old possibly want?

Our sweet friends, the Glenn's, gave Anna a very meaningful gift for her 1st Christmas, a little Bible with her name engraved on it. Jillian thought it was a special gift and wanted Anna to be able to re-open it on Christmas day. So (with my permission) Jillian decided to re-wrap it all by herself using her baby's hand-knit crochet blanket (made by our friend Julie) and some scotch tape. All of us "ooohhhed and awweed" when Anna opened it again for the second time. I love this sweet picture of Anna smiling at her gift. :-)

Both Jillian and Faith got Cherry Blossom Market accessories for their "Lemonade Stand" in the kitchen. I bought two of each the fruit and vegetables market and the ice-cream shop, so each of the girls could have their own to play with in the kitchen. It has been a blast! We have been eating lots of banana splits around here lately.

Anna got a Busy Tumple Top that has been lots of fun.

And she got a Fisher-Price Laugh and Learn Cookie Shape Surprise from Mommy and Daddy too. All three of the girls have had fun "learning" their numbers and shapes while playing with the cookie jar.